Method and means for assembling lock tumblers and springs in lock cylinders and plugs



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Il lfl INVENTOR PAUL MAESE SYM W'. ,r/Ql. MLM/2 Mw ATTORNEYS 'right of FroURE 2;

United States Patent O METHQD AND MEANS FR ASSEMBMNG LCK TUMBLERS AND SPRNGS 1N LGLK CYMNDERS AND PLUGS Paul B. Maese, 1515 Martha Drive, Las Cruces, N. Mex.

Filed .lune 16, 1964, Ser. No. 375,676 14 Claims. (Ci. 29-423) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention disclosed herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government, for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The invention relates to locks and more particularly to locks of the cylinder and plug type wherein such cylinder and plug include alignable radial bores which contain sectional pin-type tumblers which are loaded by individual tumbler springs. It is an extremely difficult and time consuming task to assemble such tumblers and springs in their cylinders as the parts are small and being spring loaded tend to proiect from whatever bore they are inserted in the cylinder. Each cylinder bore must be iilled and tumblers and springs compressed and held compressed while the plug is inserted. They cannot be suiciently compressed to be inserted into the bores of the plug and the plug thereafter inserted in the cylinder, as the plug bores project thereinto only part way.

l am aware that dummy plugs or the like have been used to force out the actual plug together with the lower sections of the tumhlers when these latter are worn and require replacement so that the upper sections of the tumblers and their springs, which are not subjected to wear, are retained in the cylinder until the actual plug and its new lower tumbler sections are reinserted in the cylinder as the dummy plug is displaced. Such devices are disclosed, for instance, in the US. Patents Nos. 2,012,911 and 2,741,907. The device or" the invention goes well beyond the teaching of these patents.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the invention to provide improved means for assembling pin-type lock tumblers and their springs in lock cylinders and plugs therefor.

A further object is to provide such means which include instrumentalities for readily mounting a coded series of tumblers and springs in a dummy lock cylinder, transferring such tumblers and springs into a dummy lock plug, shifting said tumblers and springs into an actual lock cylinder and then substituting an actual lock plug for the dummy lock plug.

A further object is to provide a novel method of assembling lock tumblers and springs therefor in the bores of a lock cylinder and a lock plug for the same.

Other obiects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the apparatus, the structure of the several elements of the same, combinations and subcornbinations of such elements with each other and/ or with a lock cylinder and its plug, as well as with the particular methods or modes of operation, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing and to the following specification wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

ln the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective View showing the several elements of the invention in partly assembled relation and apart from the lock cylinder and plug;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational View partly in longitudinal vertical section showing the parts assembled and carrying out the initial step of the assembling operation;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational View looking from the FIGURE 4 is a transverse vertical sectional View of 3,213,699 Patented Nov. 23, 1965 rice FlGURE 2 but showing a second step in the assembling operation;

FlGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing a third step in the operation;

FGURE 6 is a view similar to FGURE 2 but showing a fourth and iifth step in the operation; and

FGURE 7 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 6 but showing a sixth step in the operation.

Referring specilcally to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts in all views, 10 designates generally a dummy lock plug which has the same diameter and shape as an actual lock plug such as 11, FlGURE 7. The dummy plug 1t) may be longer than the lock plug 11 and may have one end formed with ilattened portions 12 for the application of an actuating tool thereto. Dummy plug 10 may be made of any suitable material such as metal or a suitable plastic material. The opposite end of dummy plug 10 has a slot 13 formed therein which extends longitudinally and substantially radially thereof. A row of spaced and radially extending bores 14 are formed in dummy plug lil and are intersected by the slot 13 longitudinally of such bores. Bores 1d preferably have closed lower ends slightly above the door of the slot 13 for a purpose to be apparent hereinafter. The number of bor-es 14 corresponds to the number of bores in the lock cylinder 8, FIGURES 6 and 7. ln this instance each has live bores. However, the dummy plug 10 has an additional innermost bore 15 which is aligned with the row of bores 14. The purpose of the extra bore 15 will be apparent later.

Dummy plug 16 slidably and rotatably receives thereon a dummy cylinder 16 which includes a radial extension 17 or the like which is formed with a row of bores 18 having open outer ends. An innermost bore 19 is likewise formed through the extension 17 in the line with the row of bores 1S. Bores 18 correspond in diameter, number and spacing to the row of bores 14 in the dummy plug 1i? so as to be alignable therewith. When this occurs the innermost bores 1S and 19 are in line also and the parts can be maintained in this aligned position by inserting any suitable aligning tool 20 in the aligned bores 15 and 1li. When this has been done, the parts are in the position ot' FlGURE 2 and the initial steps in the assembling operation may be commenced.

The rst step is to insert a lower tumbler section 21, a spring 22 and a `coding tumbler section 23 into each bore 14. ln the lock shown, the lower tumbler sections 21 may all be of the same length and the upper-most coding tumbler sections 23 may be of Varying length. lt should be understood that the invention is equally operable with other types of assemblies of tumbler sections and springs. For instance, the lower sections might be the coding sections with upper sections each of the same length next above and with the springs uppermost.

When the bores 14 are each loaded with tumbler sections and springs, the second step in the operation is performed and is suggested in FIGURE 3 and shown completed in FlGURE 4. This utilizes a comb-like injector 24 which includes a back or linger grip 25 and a plurality of spaced and aligned depending teeth 26 which have a number, length and spacing which correspond to the number, length and spacing of the bores 1S. Teeth 26 are inserted into bores 18 to their entire length which has the effect of transferring simultaneously all of the tumbler sections and springs 21, 23 and 22 entirely into the bores 14 of the dummy plug lil. The aligning implement 2Q is now removed without removing the injector 2li and a partial rotation is imparted to one of the dummies relative to the other so as to misalign the bores 14 and 1S and secure the tumblers and springs in the dummy plug 1d; see FlGURE 5.

The next steps in the operation are illustrated in FIG- estacas u URE 6 and comprise sliding the actual lock cylinder 8 onto the dummy plug lll so as to displace the dummy cylinder 16. Of course, during this operation the bores 27 of lock cylinder 8 are misaligned with the bores 14 of the dummy plug. However, a slight relative rotation of dummy plug 10 and cylinder S will align bores 14 and 27 so that at least portions of the uppermost elements of the tumblers and/ or springs 23 and 22 are projected into the bores 27 to maintain alignment of the parts. The next step of the operation is now set up.

An ejector 28, FIGURE 6, includes a blade portion 29 having a beveled front end 30. Blade 29 is inserted into the open end of the slot 13 so that the prow of the beveled front edge 3i) engages the lowermost ends of the lower tumbler sections 2l and cams them upwardly in a well known manner. The height of the blade 29 corresponds to the depth of the slot 13 so that when the tumblers and springs ride on the upper edge of the blade 29 they are shifted entirely within the bores 27 of the cylinder 8. The bores 14 and 27 are now slightly misaligned by a partial relative rotation of the parts to secure the tumblers and spring in the bores 27 and the stage is set for the iinal steps in the operation, see FIGURE 7. A stop shoulder 32 at the back end of blade 29 limits entry of the same into slot 13.

Thus, the actual lock cylinder 11 is now slid into the cylinder 8 with its bores 31; misaligned with the bores 27 until the dummy plug 10 is displaced. A partial relative return rotation of the parts aligns the bores 27 and 31 and the lower portions at least of the lower tumbler sections 21 spring down into the bores 31 to secure the parts in Ialignment. The assembling operation is now complete. The assembled lock cylinder may now be applied to the rest of the lock elements, not shown, in any suitable and well known manner. Variations of the foregoing method and apparatus will occur to those skilled in the art. For inst-ance, it may be possible to eliminate the dummy cylinder 16 and the injector 24 by inserting the tumblers and springs directly into the dummy plug 10, compressing them therein and sliding the dummy plug directly into the lock cylinder 8 with the bores of both misaligned. rthe tumblers and springs may now be shifted directly into the cylinder 8 and the assembly completed as described above.

From the foregoing, it is clear that the apparatus is simple to operate and eliminates virtually all risk of dropping and losing the tumblers or springs. Also, it requires no special tools or equipment other than the several elements shown and described hereinabove. In this connection, while there has been shown and described what is now thought to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions, Consequently, it is not my intention to limit myself to the exact structures and ethods shown and described hereinabove but only as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. Means for assembling a lock having pin-type tumblers and springs therefor slid-ably disposed in aligned radial bores formed in an actual lock cylinder and plug for the same, comprising a dummy plug, and ia dummy cylinder therefor, said dummy plug being relatively slidable and rotatable in said dummy cylinder, said dummy plug and dummy cylinder being formed with alignable radial bores corresponding in diameter and spacing to those of said actual plug and cylinder, said bores of said dummy cylinder having open outer ends for the insertion of said tumblers and springs therein, means shifting all of said tumblers and springs wholly into said bores of said dummy plug, said dummy plug being partially rotated relative to said dummy cylinder to secure said turnblers and springs in the former, said actual cylinder being slidable onto said dummy plug so as to displace said dummy cylinder therefrom, said dummy plug being partially rotated relative to said actual cylinder so as to align the bores of the twain, means transfer-ring said tumblers and springs wholly into said lbores of said actual cylinder, said dummy plug being partially rotated relative to said actual cylinder to secure said tumblers and springs in the latter, said actual plug being insertable into said actual cylinder so as to displace said dummy plug therefrom, and said actual plug being partially rotated relative to said actual cylinder to align said bores thereof and complete the assembly of said lock.

2. Lock assembling means according to claim 1, wherein said means shifting said tumblers and springs wholly into said bores of said dummy plug comprises rigid means insertable at the same time into said open ends of all of said bores of said dummy cylinder to force all of said tumblers land springs simultaneously into said bores of said dummy plug.

3. Lock assembling means according to claim 2, wherein said dummy plug is formed with a slot therein having a depth at least as great as the length of said bores thereof and intersecting each of such bores longitudinally thereof, said means transferring all of said tumblers and springs wholly into said bores of said actual cylinder comprising a dat ejector having a width and thickness cor-responding respectively to the depth and diameter of said slot, said ejector having a beveled front end comprising a cam, and said ejector being insertable into said slot through said open end thereof so that said cam successively forces each tumbler and its spring wholly out of said bores of said dummy plug.

il. Lock assembling means according to claim 3, there being means for readily releasably securing said dummy plug and cylinder together with said bores thereof in alignment while said tumblers and springs are inserted into said bores of the latter and shifted into said bores of the former.

5. Means for assembling the pin-type tumblers and springs therefor into the aligned bores of an actual lock cylinder and plug for the same; comprising a separable lassembly of dummy lock cylinder with a dummy lock plug slidable and rotatable therein, said dummy plug and cylinder having ialignable radial bores corresponding in diameter and spacing tothe bores of said actual plug and cylinder, said bores of said dummy cylinder having open outer ends for the insertion yof said tumblers and springs therein, means for transferring said tumblers and springs entirely into said dummy plug and releasably securing the same therein, said actual cylinder being slidable onto said dummy plug so as to displace said dummy cylinder therefrom, means for transferring said tumblers and springs entirely into said bores of said actual cylinder and reieasably securing the same therein, said actual plug being insertable into said actual cylinder so as to displace said dummy plug therefrom, and said bores of said actual cylinder and plug being aligned to complete said assembling operation.

6. Means for assembling the pin-type tumblers and springs therefor in the aligned bores of an actual lock cylinder and plug for the same, comprising rst land second dummies, one dummy simulating a lock cylinder, the other dummy simulating a lock plug for the same and adapted to be slidably and relatively rotated therein, said dummies having alignable bores corresponding in diameter and spacing to the bores of said actual cylinder and plug, the bore of said rst dummy having open outer ends for the insertion of said tumblers and springs therein, means for shifting said tumblers and springs into said bores of said second dummy, the actual plug or cylinder corresponding to said rst dummy being slidably engaged with said second dummy so as to displace said lirst dummy, means for shifting all of said tumblers and springs into said bores of said actual plug or cylinder, relatively rotating the twain slightly to secure said .tumblers and springs in such actual plug or cylinder, the actual plug or cylinder corresponding to said second dummy being slidably en- 0a led with its actual mate so as to displace said second adac dummy, and said actual plug and cylinder being relatively rotated to align said bores.

7. Means for assembling pin-type tumblers and springs therefor according to claim 6, wherein said means for shifting all of said tumblers and springs from said second dummy into said bores of said fir-st named actual plug or cylinder, comprises said second dummy being formed with a slot therein having a depth corresponding to at `least the length of said bores and intersecting the same longitudinally thereof, said slot having an open end, an ejector insertable into said slot through said open end, and said ejector having means for ejecting said tumblers and springs out of said bores of said second dummy and into said bores of said rst named actual plug or cylinder.

8. Means for assembling pin-type tumblers and springs therefor in the alignable bores of a lock cylinder and a lock plug for the same, comprising a dummy lock cylinder and a dummy lock plug, said dummy plug and cylinder having alignable radial bores, said lock plug and said dummy plug being interchangeably relatively slidably and rotatably assembled with said dummy cylinder and plug, said dummy cylinder including means for assembling a series of tumblers and springs in the bores thereof, means for transferring said tumblers and springs entirely into said aligned bores of said dummy plug, substituting said lock cylinder for said dummy lock cylinder with the bores of said lock cylinder and said dummy plug misaligned, aligning such bores, means shifting said tumblers and springs into the aligned bores of said lock cylinder, substituting said lock plug for said dummy plug with said bores of said plug and said cylinder misaligned, and aligning said bores of said cylinder and plug.

9. A method of mounting pin-type lock tumblers and the springs therefor in a lock cylinder and plug for the same, comprising the steps of assembling said tumblers and springs in the `bores of a dummy lock cylinder, transferring said tumblers and springs entirely into the bores of a dummy lock plug, releasably securing said springs and tumblers in said dummy plug, substituting a lock cylinder for said dummy lock cylinder Without releasing said tumblers land springs from said dummy plug, transferring said tumblers and springs entirely into the bores of said lock cylinder and releasably securing the same therein, substituting a lock plug for said dummy plug without releasing said tumblers and springs from said lock cylinder, and releasing said tumblers and springs for partial entry into the bores of said lock plug.

1 0. A method of assembling pin-type lock tumblers and the springs therefor in the lbores of a lock cylinder and lock plug, comprising the steps of inserting said tumblers and springs into the bores of a dummy lock plug, releasably securing the same therein, applying a `lock cylinder to said dummy plug without releasing said tumblers and springs, shifting said tumblers and springs entirely into the bores of said lock cylinder, releasably securing the same therein, substituting a lock plug for said dummy plug Without releasing said tumble-rs and springs, and partially transferring at least adjacent portions of said tumblers into the bores of said lock plug.

11. A method of assembling pin-type lock tumblers and the springs therefor in the bores `of a lock cylinder member and a lock plug member for the same, comprising the steps of inserting said tumblers and springs into the bores of one of said dummy lock members rele'asably securing the same therein, shifting said tumblers and springs entirely into the bores of the other of said dummy member, releasably securing the same therein, substituting an actual lock member for the empty dummy, shifting said tumblers and springs entirely into the bores of said actual lock mem-ber, releasably securing the same therein, substituting a second actual lock member for the now empty other dummy member, and releasing said tumblers and springs for at least partial entry intro the bores of said second lock member.

12. Means for assembling pin-type tumblers and springs therefor in the alignable bores of a lock cylinder and a plug for the same, comprising a dummy lock plug formed with bores corresponding to those of said lock plug but having a greater depth, said bores in said dummy plug being adapted to receive entirely Within the same said lock tumblers and said springs therefor with the latter compressed, said dummy plug being adapted to have said lock cylinder applied thereto with said bores of said cylinder and dummy plug misaligned, ejector means for shifting said tumblers and springs entirely into said cylinder `bores With the latter aligned with said bores of said dummy plug, said lock plug being adapted to displace said dummy plug with said bores of said lock plug and said cylinder in misalignment, and said lock plug and cylinder being adapted to be relatively partially rotated to bring said bore-s thereof into alignment.

13. Means for assembling pin-type tumblers and springs therefor according to claim 12, wherein said dummy plug is formed with a slot therein longitudinally thereof in intersecting relation to all of said bores of the same, said slot having a depth at least as great as the length of said bores, said slot having an yopen end, and said ejector means comprises cam means insertable into said slot through said open end thereof, said cam means being `operative to shift said tumblers and springs entirely out of said bores of said dummy plug.

14. Means for assembling pin-type tumblers and springs therefor according t0 claim 13, wherein said ejector has a height corresponding to the depth of said slot and said cam means comprises a wedge-shaped front end on said ejector.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,437,832 12/1922 Bradley 29-464 1,679,759 8/1928 Best 29-211 1,817,746 8/1931 Gooskens et al 20-20O X 2,909,950 10/ 1959 Francis 29-208 3,111,748 11/1963 Doll et al. 29--208 WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING A LOCK HAVING PIN-TYPE TUMBLERS AND SPRINGS THEREFOR SLIDABLY DISPOSED IN ALIGNED RADIAL BORES FORMED IN AN ACTUAL LOCK CYLINDER AND PLUG FOR THE SAME, COMPRISING A DUMMY PLUG, AND A DUMMY CYLINDER THEREFOR, SAID DUMMY PLUG BEING RELATIVELY SLIDABLE AND ROTATABLE IN SAID DUMMY CYLINDER, SAID DUMMY PLUG AND DUMMY CYLINDER BEING FORMED WITH ALIGNABLE RADIAL BORES CORRESPONDING IN DIAMETER AND SPACING TO THOSE OF SAID ACTUAL PLUG AND CYLINDER, SAID BORES OF SAID DUMMY CYLINDER HAVING OPEN OUTER ENDS FOR THE INSERTION OF SAID TUMBLERS AND SPRINGS THEREIN, MEANS SHIFTING ALL OF SAID TUMBLERS AND SPRINGS WHOLLY INTO SAID BORES OF SAID DUMMY PLUG, SAID DUMMY PLUG BEING PARTIALLY ROTATED RELATIVE TO SAID DUMMY CYLINDER TO SECURE SAID TUMBLERS AND SPRINGS IN THE FORMER, SAID ACTUAL CYLINDER BEING SLIDABLE ONTO SAID DUMMY PLUG SO AS TO DISPLACE SAID DUMMY CYLINDER THEREFROM, SAID DUMMY PLUG BEING PARTIALLY ROTATED RELATIVE TO SAID ACTUAL CYLINDER SO AS TO ALIGN THE BORES OF THE TWAIN, MEANS TRANSFERRING SAID TUMBLERS AND SPRINGS WHOLLY INTO SAID BORES OF SAID ACTUAL CYLINDER, SAID DUMMY PLUG BEING PARTIALLY ROTATED RELATIVE TO SAID ACTUAL CYLINDER TO SECURE SAID TUMBLERS AND SPRINGS IN THE LATTER, SAID ACTUAL PLUG BEING INSERTABLE INTO SAID ACTUAL CYLINDER SO AS TO DISPLACE SAID DUMMY PLUG THEREFROM, AND SAID ACTUAL PLUG BEING PARTIALLY ROTATED RELATIVE TO SAID ACTUAL CYLINDER TO ALIGN SAID BORES THEREOF AND COMPLETE THE ASSEMBLY OF SAID LOCK.
 9. A METHOD OF MOUNTING PIN-TYPE LOCK TUMBLERS AND THE SPRINGS THEREFOR IN A LOCK CYLINDER AND PLUG FOR THE SAME, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF ASSEMBLING SAID TUMBLERS AND SPRINGS IN THE BORES OF A DUMMY LOCK CYLINDER, TRANSFERRING SAID TUMBLERS AND SPRINGS ENTIRELY INTO THE BORES OF A DUMMY LOCK PLUG, RELEASABLY SECURING SAID SPRINGS AND TUMBLERS IN SAID DUMMY PLUG, SUBSTITUTING A LOCK CYLINDER FOR SAID DUMMY LOCK CYLINDER WITHOUT RELEASING SAID TUMBLERS AND SPRINGS FROM SAID DUMMY PLUG, TRANSFERRING SAID TUMBLERS AND SPRINGS ENTIRELY INTO THE BORES OF SAID LOCK CYLINDER AND RELEASABLY SECURING THE SAME THEREIN, SUBSTITUTING A LOCK PLUG FOR SAID DUMMY PLUG WITHOUT RELEASING SAID TUMBLERS AND SPRINGS FROM SAID LOCK CYLINDER, AND RELEASING SAID TUMBLERS AND SPRINGS FOR PARTIAL ENTRY INTO THE BORES OF SAID LOCK PLUG. 